Letters

The incoming administration and Congress are developing an economic stimulus plan of about $800 billion, which is supposed to create approximately three million jobs. The jobs will evolve from projects designed to rebuild and replace our roadways, bridges, dams and possibly runways. Schools will be upgraded. There could be substantial funding of energy projects, which will hopefully reduce our dependence on foreign oil.

We need quick turnaround projects ready to be implemented within 90 days of funding.

I was recently asked by a reporter if the job of Attorney General was all I thought it would be. My answer to him was, 'It is all I thought it would be and more.'

I love Kentucky and I ran for this office because it is a position in which a person can truly make a difference. I also knew there would be challenges and a few surprises along the way; both of which have proven to be true.

As Congress moves beyond last November's elections and turns its attention to governing, it has to perform one of the toughest pivots in American politics. Governing is much more difficult than campaigning.

After going at it hammer and tongs in congressional races, Democrats and Republicans now have a branch of government to run and policy to produce. Switching priorities to put the country and the institution of Congress ahead of politics can be a stretch for members.

The word in Washington is that George Bush is going to pardon a number of people potentially responsible for hideous acts committed in the war on terror. That means that those who have participated in torture and indefinite detention could go without charge or trial.

When we think of gifts we can give to people, sometimes the best thing we can bestow upon someone else is to simply listen to them.

While I was waiting to see a customer the other day, a lady came in the store and sat down near me and began, more or less, her life story. And a sad one it was. She told me of having been disabled for years, of living with her father and how neither were very well off physically, but they managed to help each other.

Children ... they are not little adults; however, they are slowly becoming the same size as adults and acquiring the same diseases as adults, even though they may be just 10 years old.

I am a pediatrician who not infrequently sees 10-year-old children weighing 200 pounds and who already have the metabolic syndrome, a pre-diabetic condition that confers the same risks for developing premature heart disease as diabetes itself.

Soon you will see a flurry of local Girl Scouts out and about participating in the annual cookie program. But did you know that by purchasing Girl Scout Cookies you are investing in your future?

A recent study showed that nearly two-thirds of girls don't aspire to be leaders because they don't identify with the traditional definition of leadership - possessing power and control. They want leadership to be defined as using one's time and talents to make a difference in the world, and they're currently not seeing any example of that in modern society.

Here it is Christmas time ... and yet another Virginia feels compelled to write a Christmas letter to the editor. Unlike the Virginia before me, however, I have absolutely no doubts or questions about Santa. Quite the contrary - I simply want to take this special Christmas season to remind Central Kentucky residents how remarkably fortunate you are to have Taylor Regional Hospital and the James Graham Brown Cancer Center serving our communities.

Once again, it's the time of year when some of you are considering buying your child or loved one a puppy, kitten or other pet for Christmas. I just want to beg those of you who are thinking about it to consider a few things before you make such a big decision and no mistake about it ... it is a big decision, especially this time of year, for the following reasons:

How can the U.S. auto industry compete with foreign carmakers when the average hourly pay, including fringe benefits, for the Big Three workers is about $74 per hour compared to $48 per hour for the workers manufacturing foreign cars in the U.S.?